DECEIT

DECEIT

1. Banquo warns Macbeth at the beginning that instruments of darkness "will win us to our harm" and "betray us in the deepest consequence" through Banquo, Shakespeare is warning us that deception by the witches will do him injury.

   • Witches deceive - they begin by saying "fair is foul and foul is fair" actions in the play will not be as they seem.
     • They deceive Macbeth into thinking that he will become king or was the ambition already there that he wanted to be deceived.
     • Later with the apparitions, they make him believe that he is invincible "none of women born shall harm Macbeth" or "shall not be vanquished until Great Birnham' wood moves to' Dunsinaine hill".
       • The witches are deceitful and trick Macbeth through language but also self-deceit because he convinces himself that he is all powerful and giving himself a false sense of hope.
         • This could also suggest that even though the message is from the witches Macbeth has absolute trust in them just as Duncan had trust in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and he was betrayed. Through this Shakespeare shows us that those who try to deceive others will be deceived in return. Maybe, Shakespeare is saying that deceiving others can ruin your life and lead you to great pain and death. Shakespeare could also be saying that your dreams and ambitions can be used against you by others.

2. Lady Macbeth teaches Macbeth to deceive with metaphor "look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't".Macbeth and Lady Macbeth play the"humble host" and trick Duncan. Asks the supernatural to hide her dark intentions in the "dunnest smoke of hell".

   • Lady Macbeth's self-deception -she believes that she will not be affected by grief or guilt for what she has done (scene after murder)-but she feels guilt and her self-deception leads to her death. As Macbeth also deceives himself into thinking he will not be affected by deceit-kills Banquo and then his guilt shows itself as an hullicination showing deception can have a negative consequence and affect your mental health-leads both Lady MAcbeth and Macbeth's mental seterioration.

3. Macbeth deceives Duncan- he realises that his deception is wrong(have a look at Macbeth's siloloquy in Act 1 Scene7). He realises that deceiving Duncan is wrong but his ambition is too great.

   • Macbeth deceives his friend due to his own insecurities and ambitious desires, but logically he had no threat from Banquo it was just the sens eof jealousy that his children are going to become the king in the future. he also deceives Lady Macbeth and does not incolve her with Banquo's death, therefore his deception leads to ditance between his "partner of greatness". It could also be seen as self deception because once he became the king he feels like he doesnt need lady Macbeth anymore.